Lentil Power Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender lentils over grains with roasted vegetables and tahini drizzle

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth

→ Lentils

03 - 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
04 - 2.5 cups water
05 - 1 bay leaf
06 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

07 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
08 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 1 zucchini, sliced
10 - 1 red onion, sliced
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Tahini Dressing

15 - 0.25 cup tahini
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
19 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
20 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Toppings

21 - 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
22 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss sweet potato cubes, diced bell pepper, sliced zucchini, and sliced red onion with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet.
02 - Roast vegetables for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking, until golden brown and tender.
03 - While vegetables roast, combine rinsed lentils, water, bay leaf, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes until lentils are tender. Drain any excess water and remove bay leaf.
04 - In a separate pot, bring water or vegetable broth to boil. Add quinoa or brown rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook according to package instructions, approximately 15-20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
05 - In a bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, maple syrup, minced garlic, and salt until smooth. Add additional water incrementally to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top each with cooked lentils and roasted vegetables. Drizzle generously with tahini dressing. Garnish with pumpkin seeds and fresh parsley. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like comfort food but actually fuels your body with sustained energy that lasts all afternoon.
  • Everything cooks simultaneously so you're not stuck in the kitchen babysitting multiple pots like some kind of kitchen juggler.
  • Leftovers stay delicious for three days, making it the meal prep solution that finally feels worth the effort.
02 -
  • Don't drain your lentils too aggressively because a little starchy water helps them stay moist and prevents that chalky texture that ruins everything.
  • Make your tahini dressing the consistency of honey, not peanut butter, because thick dressing pools at the bottom while proper consistency coats every element evenly.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of tahini dressing and store it separately because you'll want it on salads, roasted vegetables, and probably straight off a spoon by day three.
  • Prep all your vegetables the night before and store them separately so assembly on busy weeknights takes literally five minutes of actual cooking.
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